Hame-fastener.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. WATERS, OF BURLINGTON, TEXAS.

HAM E-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,362, dated October 29, 1901.

Application filed July 29, 1901. Serial No. 70,101. (NumodeL) To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. VVATERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Milam and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hams-Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in hame-fasteners. I The object of the invention is to provide a hame-fastener which is simple of construction, cheap to manufacture, and composed of parts having interlocking means for holding them securely connected while permitting of their ready disconnection when required.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation showing the use of the device for connecting a pair of hames. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts of the fastener detached from the hames and coupled together, and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views through the coupled fasteners.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 2 represent the hames, and 3 and 4 the parts of the fastener. The said parts 3 and 4 of the fastener consist each ofa comparatively long and narrow plate provided at its inner end with an eye 5 for the reception of a link 6, connecting it with its hame, and at its outer end with a curved finger-piece 7 for convenience in manipulating it. The two plates 3 and 4 are respectively formed in their opposite side edges with one or more slots 8 and 9, whereby they are adapted to be connected and disconnected by a sidewise movement and to have an interlocking engagement.

The slots are inclined at an oblique angle to their respective plates, and at the outer end and upon one side of each slot 8 is arranged a stop lip or lug 10.

In engaging the parts of the fastener to connect the lower ends of the hames one-of the parts is moved toward the other and the two fitted into corresponding slots 8 and 9 to interlock, the inclination of the slots causing the parts to take a crossed (X) position. When the parts are thus connected, the tension thereon tends to hold said parts in secure binding contact, while the lip 10 prevents sidewise movement and disconnection of the parts. When it is desired to disconnect the parts, they are drawn together until the part 4 is in position to clear the lug 10, whereupon said parts may be disengaged by a sidewise movement.

It will be seen that the device is simple of construction and cheap to manufacture and that by its use -casual disconnection of the lower ends of the hames is not liable to occur, while by proper manipulation the parts of the fastener may be easily, quickly, and conveniently coupled and uncoupled under all con-' ditions of service.

Having thus fully described my invention,- what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--.

A hame-fastener comprising corresponding coupling-plates provided with means at one end for pivotal connection with hames and with finger-pieces at their opposite ends, said plates being formed in their opposite side edges with inclined slots, the side walls of the slots of one plate having stop-lips at their outer ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RICHARD H. WATERS. 

